Israel - Old Jaffa/ Tel Aviv

Today we got a little adventurous and decided to travel up the coast to "Old Jaffa," more commonly known as Joppa in the bible. This place has some bible history. The Cedars of Lebanon were brought here, for building the Temple in Jerusalem, by King Solomon "...in floats by sea to Joppa." (2Chron.2:16). Also once again, Ezra brought cedars from Lebanon to rebuild the temple "to the sea of Joppa." (Ezra 1:3)
It was fun to walk around this old city and think of all that happened here in the old and new testament.
Below is the house of Simon the tanner. It is believed that on the roof of this building Peter saw a vision that opened the way for spreading Christianity to the gentiles. This location had a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea and the port of Joppa.
Old Jaffa is the world's oldest seaport. Below are the remains of the original wall.
Below is the seaport and the old city. This is where Jonah the prophet caught a boat and tried to run away from the Lord's calling on his life.
This is what the seaport looks like today.
Below is a picture of Tel-Aviv from Jaffa. We also traveled around TelAviv today.
The weather was again beautiful and we had a wonderful day.
Shalom from the Carlson's

Israel - The Mediterranean Sea

Watching the sun set on the Mediterranean Sea, one cannot stop thinking and talking about how not too far up the coast from here, Paul and Barnabus took their first missionary journey. Acts 13:42 "Many jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabus and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God."
The sunset was beautiful and it was fun watching some kids fish as the sun was slowly setting.
Above was an elderly man fishing with nets in an old boat. We enjoyed just watching him and thinking of some of our bible heros that were fishermen when our Lord called them to come and follow Him.
Above is the beautiful view from the promenade in Netanya. With the high cliffs and t-shirt weather, we had a wonderful day.
As the locals say "Shalom."

Israel

Jer. 31:6 "There will be a day when watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim will call out this message: 'Arise! Let's go to Zion, to the Lord our God''

In just a couple of hours we will board a plane to the destination of our dreams, Israel.

Nu 14:7-8 "And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (KJV)

We will arrive early Sunday morning.

"THE CALL" - IRELAND

On October 27th, we arrived in Dublin airport. A team of five ministered at their second annual conference. Pictured above is Pat Johnson, Patrick Mullins, Pastor Terry, Pastor Pat and Cora Chaffin. A team that drove straight to the church from the airport and worked continually for a week. This team preached 5 adult services, one youth service, one leadership training, 8 children's ministry services and 5 services of nursery duty. It was exhausting, exciting and blessed all at the same time.
The children loved to dress up and be involved in the bible skits.
We used many modes of teaching to the children. They loved the eagle puppet and Cora who acted as a little girl who finally received the lord into her heart after days of searching for the truth and the reason she was created.
The team was continually loved by the children.
These children were so eager to learn. They wanted to participate in everything and to the parents delight went home excitedly telling them all they had learned that day.

The children were eager to learn to go deeper in worship with their Lord.



Then there were the five services to the adults. While the rest of the team was upstairs ministering to the children and infants, Pastor Terry preached morning and evening to the adults. Many reports of what the Lord was doing in the hearts of the people was encouraging. Pastor James felt that God was going deep into the hearts of the people with much needed refreshing after coming out of months of construction and hard work in the church.


Saying good-bye is always the hardest part. It seems each year we get closer and closer to our Irish brothers and sisters. Some of the children cried while many adults were disappointed we couldn't stay longer. With promises of returning, we departing feeling the Lord's pleasure on this conference and on the Family Worship Centre.
God was faithful to once again, give times of refreshing, binding up the broken-hearted, renewing the call of God on many peoples lives, through His Spirit. We are so grateful that He allows us to be a small part of the great things God is doing around the world.